Romney, The Inevitable Nominee

[punked]

since sheldon adelson, who is worth $24 billion, wants to give $100 million to the romney campaign, how will romney pay him back if he becomes president?

Easy he will make that whole China bribe scandal go away.

[Shady]

I didn't like when they did to Kerry who was twice the man Rmoney is but that is the 4th estate for you. He should just be happy Americans don't read international news because that is 10 times worse for him. At least he knows most the media barons in the states and can get away with a lot more.

Romney is a self-made man. Created his own business, created his own wealth. John Kerry crapped on his fellow servicemen in Vietnam, and married into wealth. How is that twice the man or Mitt Romney?

Kerry also did a great job of parking his yacht in Rhode Island so that he could avoid paying Massachusetts' taxes on it. I can only imagine what you'd be saying if Romney did that.

[-TSS-]

I think this year's election is a delicious one as the candidates can truly be considered left and right. However, it must be said that only in America of all the developed nations in the world could someone with policies and a mindset of Romney even dream of getting elected.

I often read the British political and economics magazine the Economist and even though they with their pro neo-liberal views are as far apart from my own as could be they hit the nail on the head by saying that the American conservatives are hypocrites as they want to pursue a small state taxation government but want to cling onto a big state spending government. That is the dilemma they seem not to get over no matter how decades are running past.

[Shady]

I think this year's election is a delicious one as the candidates can truly be considered left and right. However, it must be said that only in America of all the developed nations in the world could someone with policies and a mindset of Romney even dream of getting elected.

I often read the British political and economics magazine the Economist and even though they with their pro neo-liberal views are as far apart from my own as could be they hit the nail on the head by saying that the American conservatives are hypocrites as they want to pursue a small state taxation government but want to cling onto a big state spending government. That is the dilemma they seem not to get over no matter how decades are running past.

His policies and mindset are the same as Stephen Harper.

[BubberMiley]

His policies and mindset are the same as Stephen Harper.

What do you base that on?

[Shady]

I'm actually more suprised that someone with Obama's policies and mindset could get elected in America. He's basically a Euopean socialist type leader.

[-TSS-]

I'm actually more suprised that someone with Obama's policies and mindset could get elected in America. He's basically a Euopean socialist type leader.

2008, credit crunch, George W Bush.

Need one say more?

[Guest American Woman]

I'm actually more suprised that someone with Obama's policies and mindset could get elected in America. He's basically a Euopean socialist type leader.

Americans don't think so; at least not so many as to prevent his getting elected. I sure don't see it myself.

[kimmy]

So, why won't Romney release his tax returns?

There's really just a few possible reasons.

-he's afraid for voters to know how much money he made.

-he's afraid for voters to know how little tax he paid.

-he's afraid of what voters will think about some of the things he's done to reduce his taxes.

I think Romney and his advisors know that if people get a look at the deductions Romney has been able to use, they'll know that the claim that rich-people need these deductions and tax-cuts to create more jobs is total BS.

-k

[Bonam]

since sheldon adelson, who is worth $24 billion, wants to give $100 million to the romney campaign, how will romney pay him back if he becomes president?

Probably by not raising taxes on his income / capital gains / business.

[Bonam]

His policies and mindset are the same as Stephen Harper.

I wouldn't say so. His mindset may perhaps be similar, but policies (at least as proclaimed throughout the campaign) are necessarily different, because he has to cater to a much more socially conservative base. In Canada, there is much less of the kind of religious social conservatism that there is in the US, and the Conservative party does not actively push that agenda as the Republican party does in the US.

Edited August 7, 2012 by Bonam

[Bonam]

So, why won't Romney release his tax returns?

There's really just a few possible reasons.

-he's afraid for voters to know how much money he made.

-he's afraid for voters to know how little tax he paid.

-he's afraid of what voters will think about some of the things he's done to reduce his taxes.

I think Romney and his advisors know that if people get a look at the deductions Romney has been able to use, they'll know that the claim that rich-people need these deductions and tax-cuts to create more jobs is total BS.

-k

Releasing tax returns that show a bunch of deductions for random stuff that most people can't/don't use does nothing but show that the tax system should have some reforms. But, it provides a bunch of ammo for his opponents to create sound bites with.

Romney said in a speech something along the lines of that he would be stupid not to pay as little taxes as he legally can. And he's completely right. Why would one NOT take a tax deduction or tax minimization strategy that one can legally take? Doing so is the rational course of action.

The tax returns have little to do with tax-cuts by the way. I don't think anyone would find fault with someone paying the current tax rate, whether it was cut or not. So it wouldn't do anything to show that tax-cuts are or are not needed to help create jobs. As for deductions, I believe many Republicans are actually in favor of a simplified tax system which eliminates many deductions and creates a flatter tax structure, so showing a bunch of outlandish deductions would only lend support to that argument.

[bleeding heart]

As for deductions, I believe many Republicans are actually in favor of a simplified tax system which eliminates many deductions and creates a flatter tax structure, so showing a bunch of outlandish deductions would only lend support to that argument.

Support for their argument which they remain unwilling to produce???

[Bitsy]

So, why won't Romney release his tax returns?

There's really just a few possible reasons.

-he's afraid for voters to know how much money he made.

-he's afraid for voters to know how little tax he paid.

-he's afraid of what voters will think about some of the things he's done to reduce his taxes.

I think Romney and his advisors know that if people get a look at the deductions Romney has been able to use, they'll know that the claim that rich-people need these deductions and tax-cuts to create more jobs is total BS.

-k

Great observations!

Sophisticated investors and tax planners are mystified about Romney's IRA account, which can only be answered with the release of his past tax returns.

The most mysterious of the unexplained mysteries about Mitt Romney’s considerable wealth is how he was able to amass between $21 million and $102 million in his individual retirement account during the 15 years he was at Bain Capital LLC.

snip

Without mentioning the heroics Romney has accomplished in his IRA, the New York Times editorialized on July 10 that the rest of Romney’s opaque “tax avoidance” schemes -- including overseas shelters in the Cayman Islands, Switzerland and elsewhere -- amount to nothing short of a “financial black hole” that he would be well advised to explain to the public. He should put explaining his magical IRA at the top of the list.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-15/the-secret-behind-romney-s-magical-ira.html

[waldo]

So, why won't Romney release his tax returns?

There's really just a few possible reasons.

-he's afraid for voters to know how much money he made.

-he's afraid for voters to know how little tax he paid.

-he's afraid of what voters will think about some of the things he's done to reduce his taxes.

I think Romney and his advisors know that if people get a look at the deductions Romney has been able to use, they'll know that the claim that rich-people need these deductions and tax-cuts to create more jobs is total BS.

[Bitsy]

Comments like this reinforce the suspicion that surrounds Romney’s tax returns.

Mitt Romney has been determined to resist releasing his tax returns at least since his bid for Massachusetts governor in 2002 and has been confident that he will never be forced to do so, several current and former Bain executives tell The Huffington Post. Had he thought otherwise, say the sources based on their longtime understanding of Romney, he never would have gone forward with his run for president.

Bain executives say they've been instructed to keep company and Romney-specific information completely confidential, tightening the lockdown on an already buttoned-up company.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/18/mitt-romney-tax-returns_n_1682539.html

[-TSS-]

Romney nominates Congressman Paul Ryan as his running-mate in the election. Not a great surprise there then.

[Shady]

Romney nominates Congressman Paul Ryan as his running-mate in the election. Not a great surprise there then.

Actually it is a bit of a suprise. It's a smart, bold decision, and it sets up a great choice election. Continued fiscal irresponsibility and slow economic growth vs fiscal responsibility and real economic growth.

[punked]

Actually it is a bit of a suprise. It's a smart, bold decision, and it sets up a great choice election. Continued fiscal irresponsibility and slow economic growth vs fiscal responsibility and real economic growth.

Yep Obama actually trying to keep programs people like while closing the deficit or Tax cuts for the rich whilenthe middle class get Medicare coupons and SS cuts all the while still not balancing the budget because of those tax cuts. I don't see how that is a winning strategy.

[Bitsy]

Yep Obama actually trying to keep programs people like while closing the deficit or Tax cuts for the rich whilenthe middle class get Medicare coupons and SS cuts all the while still not balancing the budget because of those tax cuts. I don't see how that is a winning strategy.

Bold move is the spin they are putting on it, and it is being echoed by every conservative pundit. They are hoping it will be seen as a means of bolsterting Romney's independent and visionary thinking.

Twelve reasons why it may not be so smart....

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/08/11/677171/12-things-you-should-know-about-vice-presidential-candidate-paul-ryan/

[j44]

Actually it is a bit of a suprise. It's a smart, bold decision, and it sets up a great choice election. Continued fiscal irresponsibility and slow economic growth vs fiscal responsibility and real economic growth.

Smart? Probably. Maybe not the safest VP choice but it isn't bold. Christie or Rubio would have been bold. Ryan is somewhere in the middle. 

I find it odd that the Romney camp came out pretty quick w talking points saying Romney would have his own plan and not follow The Ryan Plan. Even in that sense they are splitting the difference. 

I think Romney needed to mix it up a little. Ryan might do that. He might not though. 

I think this might be a signal that he wants to make it clear his focus will be on the economy/budget since I don't think anyone has ever heard Ryan say anything about anything else (This will make the VP debates interesting. I bet staffers are jamming foreign policy stuff down Ryan's throat at this very moment).

But, like I said, they distanced themselves from the Ryan plan so go figure. 

In the end I don't know how much VP choices make a difference. If they do at all. 

[Bitsy]

In the end I don't know how much VP choices make a difference. If they do at all. 

McCain's pick made a huge difference..it reflected very poorly upon his judgment. I think it remains to be seen how Romney's choice plays out but I agree that the bold move would have been Christie and it was the one that Democrats feared the most.

[punked]

Smart? Probably. Maybe not the safest VP choice but it isn't bold. Christie or Rubio would have been bold. Ryan is somewhere in the middle. 

I find it odd that the Romney camp came out pretty quick w talking points saying Romney would have his own plan and not follow The Ryan Plan. Even in that sense they are splitting the difference. 

I think Romney needed to mix it up a little. Ryan might do that. He might not though. 

I think this might be a signal that he wants to make it clear his focus will be on the economy/budget since I don't think anyone has ever heard Ryan say anything about anything else (This will make the VP debates interesting. I bet staffers are jamming foreign policy stuff down Ryan's throat at this very moment).

But, like I said, they distanced themselves from the Ryan plan so go figure. 

In the end I don't know how much VP choices make a difference. If they do at all. 

I think if the vp debates could framed as old wise middle class all his life Joe Biden who has never been with anything monetarily and knows what is like to have nothing vs young had the world handed to him Paul Ryan. I think that is a debate Joe Biden can win.

[punked]

McCain's pick made a huge difference..it reflected very poorly upon his judgment. I think it remains to be seen how Romney's choice plays out but I agree that the bold move would have been Christie and it was the one that Democrats feared the most.

I don't know how competitive the north east could ever be but it would have been better then this because despite anything else you can't say he wants kill Medicare.

[j44]

Bold move is the spin they are putting on it, and it is being echoed by every conservative pundit. They are hoping it will be seen as a means of bolsterting Romney's independent and visionary thinking.

Twelve reasons why it may not be so smart....

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/08/11/677171/12-things-you-should-know-about-vice-presidential-candidate-paul-ryan/

This is more or less a list of 3 things since 10 of the items are the Ryan Plan.

As usual, it is kind of a double edged sword. This will energize the left.